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Tag: seoul

  • Seoul Design Cloud to promote city as design hub of Asia

    Seoul Design Cloud to promote city as design hub of Asia

    Seoul is promoting itself as Asia’s leading design hub with a series of design-related events.

    Hosted by the Seoul Design Foundation, Seoul Design Cloud, a mega design event comprising Seoul Design Week, Seoul Upcycling Week and Seoul Fashion Week – different from the biannual fashion event – kicked off Monday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

    “With Dongdaemun Design Plaza as the center, Seoul’s design will take a leap. And Seoul Design Cloud will show the way,” Choi Kyung-ran, the head of the Seoul Design Foundation, said at a press event on the opening day.

    Seoul Design Cloud is being held at the DDP – which is also being used as the main press center for the inter-Korean summit – through September 26.

    “DDP will receive attention (from around the world). We hope that through this opportunity, (the venue) can grab people’s attention,” Choi said.

    The 10-day event kicked off with the Human City Design Seoul conference, which discusses the city’s future in terms of design-related aspects.

    At the conference, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon spoke as a social designer, suggesting Seoul move on as a design city. A related exhibition is being held at the DDP during the period of the event, introducing cases from 21 cities in which design has made people’s lives better.

    Ahn Gi-hyun, the head curator of the exhibition, and his team gathered examples from around the world, and contacted cities to receive videos that are being shown at individual kiosks.

    “Seoul See You Tomorrow Pyeongyang” is an exhibition that celebrates cooperation and harmony between the two Koreas and hopes to link the two capital cities beyond physical and political boundaries.

    Around 41 graphic designers and illustrators from Korea and abroad participated in creating artworks that imagine what the two cities would be like in 2030, using mainly the colors of red and blue.

    Meanwhile, young student designers will showcase 100 new hanbok designs on Sunday at Changdeokgung, with student models wearing the designs walking around the palace garden. The outfits were shown to the public on Monday at a fashion show in line with the opening of Seoul Design Cloud.

    During the event period, a market will also be held at DDP to introduce local brands based in the Dongdaemun area, the fashion hub of Seoul.

    With Seoul Design Cloud covering a broad spectrum of design with diverse events, from conferences to markets, questions were raised at the press conference about the identity of the event.

    “We have obtained some fundamental results by cooperating with the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the topic of city revitalization,” said Jun Gi-hyun, an official from the Seoul Design Foundation, in response to the question.

    “Regarding design, there are numerous things happening. It is our role to show everything to the people, allowing them to be inspired,” he added.

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  • Faure Le Page ready to debut in Seoul

    Faure Le Page ready to debut in Seoul

    The Parisian luxury accessories retailer Faure Le Page will open its first store in South Korea next month.

    The Faure Le Page store will be the fashion house’s eighth brick-and-mortar store globally when it opens at Hanwha’s Galleria Department Store in Seoul.

    The French company, which specialises in leather bags and other leather goods, dates back to 1717 and already has Asian stores in Japan and Taiwan.

    “Seoul, one of the most dynamic cities in the world, will open a new chapter for our brand,” said Faure Le Page’s creative director Augustin de Buffevent.

    “After comparing other competitive fashion companies, we decided to partner with Hanwha Galleria [due to] their best department stores for luxury goods.”

  • Off-White to open more stores in Seoul

    Off-White to open more stores in Seoul

    Fashion retailer Off-White has opened two more retail locations in Seoul.

    The standalone Off-White South Korea store in Cheondong is made with light brick with glass inlays, giving pedestrians a view into the store’s floor and displays of sneakers, accessories and other apparel. The second Miles Davis-inspired store in Hyundai Coex is blue-toned with wireframe furniture at its centre.

    Both of the new Off-White South Korea stores feature similar marbled interiors as seen in the brand’s recently opened Macau store.

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  • Bottega Lounge opening in Seoul attended by owner

    Bottega Lounge opening in Seoul attended by owner

    Owner/MD of the Italian winery and distillery bearing her family name attended the official inaugural event of the Bottega Lounge in Seoul’s Gangnam-Gu.

    Opened in collaboration with a local partner, the lounge offers Italian Prosecco, Amarone della Valpolicella, Brunello di Montalcino, grappa and liqueurs.

    The lounge also allows Seoul people to become familiar with Italian food, as well as other Asian, American and French cuisines.

    Bottega is a family-owned company in Bibano, Treviso, (45km north of Venice) that has been producing premium Italian wines, grappa, spirits and food products since 1977. Bottega is a third-generation business, today led by Barbara, Sandro and Stefano Bottega. Its headquarters are in a renovated 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by 10ha of vineyards. The group also runs a winery in Valpolicella and one in Montalcino.

    Bottega products are distributed to more than 120 countries.

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  • Nature Republic site priciest property in Korea

    Nature Republic site priciest property in Korea

    The Nature Republic flagship store in Myeongdong, Seoul, has been named the most expensive commercial property in South Korea for the 15th consecutive year.

    According to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the official government appraisal of the land currently housing the cosmetics retailer’s stroe increased by 6.16 per cent from last year to 91.3 million won (US$85,439) per square metre.

    Other properties within Myeongdong rounded out the list of the 10 most expensive properties per square metre in the nation.

    Properties currently occupied by jewellery shops Lloyd and Clue were the second and third most expensive, coming in at 90.25 million won and 90.12 million won, respectively.

    The site of Woori Bank’s Myeongdong Branch dropped to fourth place at 88.6 million won per square metre after holding the second highest position for many years.

    The average price of land per square metre rose 6.28 per cent with Mapo-gu showing the highest increase at 11.89 per cent.

    Seocho-gu followed with 8.76 per cent, while Yongsan-gu and Seongdong-gu were tied at 8.14 per cent each.

    Gangnam-gu, with a 7.85 per cent increase, rounded out the list of districts in Seoul that saw the greatest rise in land prices.

    According to MOLIT, the least expensive land can be found in Uljin-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, boasting an appraisal price of 142 won (US13 cents) per square metre.

    In addition, the greatest price leap came from Guneop-ri, Hwachon-myeon in Hongcheon-gun of Gangwon Province, having seen a 700-fold increase from 286 won per square metre last year to 200,000 won this year.

    The jump in price is attributed to a newly built rest service area along the Seoul-Yangyang highway.

  • 3.1 Phillip Lim opens new stores in Seoul

    3.1 Phillip Lim opens new stores in Seoul

    US fashion brand 3.1 Phillip Lim is opening stores in Seoul via Handsome, the apparel unit of Hyundai Department Store.

    Handsome says 3.1 Phillip Lim men’s and women’s apparel, bags and accessories have just gone on sale at outlets in the luxury hall of Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong.

    Handsome, which has 27 global fashion brands in its portfolio, will expand 3.1 Phillip Lim distribution channels through Hyundai Department Store.

    Launched by Chinese-American designer Phillip Lim in 2005, the label opened its first brick-and-mortar branded store for Korea in Cheongdam-dong in 2009.

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  • More “green” of Apple store Garosugil

    More “green” of Apple store Garosugil

    Opening in Seoul on Saturday, Apple Garosugil will bring Apple’s products, in-store programming and services together in one place for the first time for South Korean customers.

    In the heart of the Gangnam area, the store features a 7.6m glass facade along a tree-lined street, with interior trees mirroring those outside.

    “Our stores are gathering places for the community where everyone is welcome to connect, learn and create,” says Apple senior VP of retail Angela Ahrendts.

    Today at Apple programming offers free sessions daily to inspire participants to unlock their creativity in photography, music, art and design, coding skills and more. The sessions are held in the heart of the store, the Forum, with its video wall.

    Anyone can attend a 30-minute Quick Start session, then go further with experiential photo walks or attend entrepreneurial sessions. Educators and developers can also receive advice and specialised training in the store’s boardroom.

    Apple’s full line of products and a curated collection of accessories are available in the store. Along each side of the store are Avenues, inspired by window displays along a shopping street, which offer interactive displays for visitors. These feature third-party products and accessories.

    Customers can register for Today at Apple sessions through the Apple Store app, as well as explore products and shop.

    Between them, the store’s 140 team members speak 15 languages.

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  • Apple’s first South Korean store set to open in Seoul on Jan. 27

    Apple’s first South Korean store set to open in Seoul on Jan. 27

    The first official Apple Store Korea will open later this month.

    Apple Korea announced today that its first fully-fledged retail shop in South Korea will open on January 27, on Garosugil in the affluent southern district of Gangnam in Seoul.Apple said on its website that the store will trade seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.

    Consumers will be able to try out iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, MacBooks and other Apple products, visit the Genius Grove for repairs, and attend training sessions on the use of Apple gadgets at the store.

    Apple said it has been working with mobile carriers, including SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus so users can register and set up their mobile phones at the store.

    Apple began replacing iPhone batteries early this month as hundreds of thousands of South Korean iPhone users filed a suit over allegations the tech giant intentionally slowed down older iPhones to push users to buy new models.

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  • LV chooses Korea for the launch of its new menswear collection

    LV chooses Korea for the launch of its new menswear collection

    French luxury brand Louis Vuitton has chosen Korea for the launch of its new collection for men.

    The new SS18 menswear and bags will be available in Shinsegae Department Store from 19 January, and Louis Vuitton men’s exclusive store in Seoul from the 10 January 2018.

    Louis Vuitton said the collection is pre-sold at seven stores in seven countries with maily trend-conscious consumers.

    Louis Vuitton selected 7 countries to introduce its new menswear collection, namely Korea, France, the United States, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

    In each country, the brand selected one store to represent the brand, and pre-release the collection.

    This new product reflects the design inspired by famous islands around the world with the subject of ‘luxury island hopping’.

    Leather goods, clothing, shoes, accessories, including the Monogram Reflective Keypole Bag, which was first unveiled in the menswear collection in Paris last June, are all available in the selected stores.

    Kim John, Artistic Director of the Louis Vuitton Men Collection Design said “this collection has been designed with a special reminder of beautiful islands such as New Zealand, Easter Island and Hawaii,” and “Travel and Island, where different cultures and identities can be experienced, that is where I got the idea from.”

    Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton store specializing in menswear was opened on the sixth floor of Shinsegae Department Store’s main branch in Seoul. The department store has accommodated a renovated store featuring women’s collections as well on the ground floor.

    Other Louis Vuitton stores can only be found at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, Harrods in London, and Shin Kong Place in Beijing, as well as Shinsegae Department Store’s Gangnam branch stores having also womenswear.

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  • Starbucks Debuts Largest Store in South Korea

    Starbucks Debuts Largest Store in South Korea

    Starbucks Coffee Korea Co., a 50/50 joint venture between Starbucks Coffee International, Inc. and Shinsegae Group, celebrated the opening of Korea’s largest Starbucks store in Central Seoul near Jonggak Station in December 2017. Located in Jongro Tower, with more than 900 residents, the store sits between two of the Tower’s floors covering over 1,000 square meters (11,000 square feet). Jonggak Station serves as a gathering place for all generations of Koreans to shop, dine, work and play in a location where history and tradition of Korean culture merge with modern city amenities.

    The Jongro store features a “Grand Bar,” a triangular bar on the second floor measuring 25 meters (82 feet), making it the largest stand-alone bar at any Starbucks across South Korea, and puts both coffee forward and Teavana handcrafted beverages at centerstage.

    Beyond the Grand Bar, the space also offers a space known as the Coffee Stage, for a more personalized and intimate coffee experience with Starbucks baristas. In addition, specially-designed seating zones, inspired by the six commonly traded goods among Koreans during the Chosun Dynasty, provide comfortable seating for large groups, close friends and individuals to enjoy a cup of coffee in this unique atmosphere.

    “The Jongro store represents the 19-year coffee journey we’ve been on with Korean customers,” said S.K. Lee, CEO, Starbucks Coffee Korea. “We are pleased to create a place which pays respect to our Korean heritage while elevating the coffee retail experience customers have come to expect of Starbucks.”

    The beverage menu at the Jongro store includes nearly 100 handcrafted customized beverages. The Teavana Blueberry Bliss and Teavana Lavender Sage beverages are uniquely brewed on a Siphon to extract the full tea flavors and aromas. These teas, as well as the Starbucks Reserve Origin Flight and Reserve Brew Comparison tasting experiences, can only be found at the Jongro store.

    In addition, more than 60 locally-sourced food items are available, including seven various rice dishes such as a Cactus rice ball with beans and sweet potato, as well as light meals and snacks, and can be found only at this location.

    “We are committed to innovating the Starbucks Experience to meet the expectations and needs of our customers and are proud to bring our Korean customers closer to our coffee and partners (employees) than ever before,” said Mark Ring, president of Starbucks Asia Pacific.

    Since opening in 1999, Starbucks today has more than 1,140 stores across 75 cities in South Korea. Employing over 13,000 partners (employees), Starbucks Korea is a leading Employer of Choice in the country and is also a model of corporate citizenship with an robust social impact agenda, partnering with over 140 communities and nonprofits to serve its partners and the community.

  • Tartine Bakery to Open in Seoul in 2018

    Tartine Bakery to Open in Seoul in 2018

    Award-winning Tartine Bakery is expanding from San Francisco and will open its first overseas branch in Seoul’s Hannam Dong area on February 9.

    There are plans to also open about four more Tartine Korea outlets over the next 12 to 18 months.

    Heading the Korean branch will be pastry chef Lee Hyun Hee and chef Edward Lee, co-founder of Baroque Bakery and Pizzeria d’Buzza in Seoul. The two Korean chefs have spent six months in San Francisco learning the bakery’s recipes, says Food And Wine magazine.

    Tartine founder Chad Robertson, who has studied Korean martial art taekwondo, describes Korea’s food culture as “really amazing” with its take on Western food.

    Tartine’s San Francisco shop attracts queues for its morning buns, a croissant dough rolled into a bun form and dusted with sugar, orange zest and cinnamon, as well as its buttermilk scones studded with currants, and fresh loaves ranging from baguettes to offerings made with buckwheat and quinoa.

    Meanwhile, the bakery has just opened a 464sqm bread factory in San Francisco that combines a pastry shop, restaurant, ice-cream parlour and coffee shop in a warehouse space. The company plans to replicate this concept in a 3716sqm space in downtown Los Angeles, which will also include a coffee lab and roastery as well as a trattoria and pizzeria.

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  • Chanel cosmetics opens its first boutique in Seoul

    Chanel cosmetics opens its first boutique in Seoul

    Chanel opened its first independent beauty boutique ‘Chanel Famille Boutique’ in Shinsegae Department Store, on 15th Pamier Street in Gagnam.

    Chanel Famille Boutique is Chanel’s first beauty flagship store in Korea, where customers can experience different displays, make-up services, beauty classes and exclusive collections.

    Famille Boutique showcases products such as fragrances and makeup in a new way  inspired by Korea’s unique Taegeuk pattern to celebrate the opening of Korea’s first cosmetics boutique.

    In addition, the boutique shows the creative spirit of Chanel, which blends with the trendy Korean latest k-pop music, and a new system to quickly find your own lip color.

    There are 5 make-up classes in Chanel Famille Boutique. Particularly, “Coco Friends” is a small beauty class with 3 guests for 30 minutes, so customers can learn from custom make-up to the latest trend make-up.

    A variety of exclusive collection items are available in Korea, including the boutique exclusive’ Le Signe du Lion ‘, inspired by the Lion, Mademoiselle Chanel’s constellation.

    Chanel launched with a variety of events from 15 December to 21 December to celebrate Christmas, including Christmas cards, calligraphy services, and ribbon tree making.

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  • Shinhan Bank completes acquisition of ANZ’s retail biz in Vietnam

    Shinhan Bank completes acquisition of ANZ’s retail biz in Vietnam

    South Korea’s Shinhan Bank said Monday it has completed the acquisition of Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group’s retail business in Vietnam.

    The acquisition helps Shinhan Bank increase its assets in Vietnam to US$3.3 billion and its number of Vietnamese customers to about 900,000, the bank said.

    Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

    In April, ANZ, Australia’s third-largest bank, agreed to sell its retail business in Vietnam to Shinhan Bank as part of its strategy to streamline its businesses in Asia.

     

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  • Line Friends to open Pop-Up stores in Seoul City

    Line Friends to open Pop-Up stores in Seoul City

    A Line Friends pop-up will open at luxury speciality store BoonTheShop in Seoul on Saturday.

    Running until January 14, the Korean character brand’s outlet will introduce its latest merchandise, BT21. The range includes dolls, cushions, fashion items, limited-edition postcards, posters and bag charms – all based on a set of characters created by K-pop boyband BTS and the Line Friends team.

    LINE FRIENDS

    The same line will also start selling at Line Friends’ New York flagship on the same day via a “BT21 Zone”, and at other stores in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, as well as online early next year.

    BT21 was initially launched as stickers on Line App with more than 17 million downloads and 200 million Twitter exposures. The first Line Friends’ collaboration with artists, the BT21 range joins signature characters such as Brown, Choco and Cony.

    LINE FRIENDS Unveils BT21 Merchandise at Its Flagship Store in New York (PRNewsfoto/LINE FRIENDS)

    Line Friends has 91 stores in 11 international markets.

  • Espoir introduced new concept store ‘Make-up Pub’ in Seoul

    Espoir introduced new concept store ‘Make-up Pub’ in Seoul

    The cosmetics brand ‘Espoir’ introduced a new concept store ‘Make-up Pub’ reminiscent of draft beer house.

    Eespoir, a professional makeup brand, opened the first make-up pub concept store in Hongdae in November under the concept of Lively, Free like a lounge pub.

    The newly launched ‘ Espoir Makeup Pub’ Concept Store is the first concept store designed for the millennial generation that pursues an enjoyable makeup experience.

    In this concept store, Espoir’ has provided special services that can only be experienced at the Hongdae Makeup Pub, as well as the best products that have been recognized for its superior product quality.

    Espoir to introduce new concept store 'Make-up Pub' in Seoul 2

    The make-up pub, which opened in Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, is filled with a variety of ll items commonly found in draft beer, just like its name suggests.

    There are many different colors of foundation on the nozzles where cool draft beer comes out and a variety of color cosmetics on the cutting board.
    On the other hand, staffs with color charts like menus will find the perfect color for consumers.

    This concept store provides exotic spaces and a differentiated service so that anyone who wants to change freely visit and experience brand.

    As soon as customers enter the store, the color mix bar captures their attention with its gorgeous neon lights. It is a space where anyone can enjoy the ‘Hot Colors’ mix performance that the artist suggests and mix colors directly.

    The Face Tailoring Zone, reminiscent of draft beer machines, provides professional consulting for customers to fine right color and texture for their skin.

    Apart from that, there is a mirror room where customers can put on self-makeup by themselves and have make-up service from professional makeup artists without making advance reservations. A variety of samples and beverages were provided free of charge to all visitors.

    Meanwhile, in order to commemorate the opening of the concept store, the brand has presented with a special coaster with the ‘Make UP PUB’ logo.

    Espoir official said “here is the ‘Make-up Pub’ where customers can find the best color and choose the best color cosmetics.” “We will have more ideas and provide good products to meet customer’s expectations.